Chris Matthews: Avoiding An Up Or Down Vote In House Allows Democrats To “Pull A Fast One”

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by Drew Grant | 9:01 pm, March 17th, 2010

» 10 comments

Yesterday saw the unveiling of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s hinting at a new strategy to get the health care reform bill railroaded in Congress: A “Deem and Pass” rule that would allow lawmakers to vote on a more popular package of the Senate bill, and if that’s approved in the House, it signifies that the health care bill to be passed.

But MSNBC’s Chris Matthews takes issue with this plan: If the Democrats avoid a direct up or down vote on the bill, they would expose themselves to criticism of “pulling a fast one,” by allowing members of Congress to claim they didn’t support the reform bill in its entirety, and thereby avoid having to answer for their votes.

Chris Matthews, Deem and pass, Nancy Pelosi

WaterLoo

What’s crazier?
1.) The fact Chris Matthews (A.K.A Mr. Tingles himself) rejects this plan, OR
2.) Progressives are about to rob America of 1/6th of the economy through an unpopular measure called “Deem and Pass” which sounds eerily similar to “Demon Pass”
http://thedailybarb.com Burnnotice

Wow, I can’t believe what I just heard… Cris Matthews will never cease to amaze me. I go with #1 WaterLoo. I thought for sure Matthews would be all for Ramming the bill through at any cost. Obama- “Whatever it takes, not concerned about procedure.” Oh ya? Isn’t that the same as saying Constitutional law is irrelevant. How about water-boarding someone to get a confession? “What ever it takes to get results. Procedure is irrelevant,” right?.
m

SURPRISE! Chris Matthews, that conservatives love to trash because he said he likes Obama, is actually quite conservative. This is something most people’ve known about him for years. He’s routinely featured on MediaMatters and was a couple of years ago their biggest Misinformer of the Year. Rachel Maddow said that he wouldn’t be able to host a radio show on Air America.
m

By the way, if you didn’t know any of the things I just wrote above then maybe it’s time to stop drinking the koolaid.
writer

Compared to Olbermann and Maddow, anyone would be conservative.
Cecelia

m, Matthews is not a conservative. One doesn’t have to be a conservative to take the position that deem-and-pass is maneuver that could cost Democrats in the long run.

Matthews is a liberal rather than lefty and he has the temerity to criticize the far left and to occasionally take stands that might put principle over politics.

That’s reason enough to put him on Media Matters’ hit list.

Matthews has also shown a fawning liking for the president that has made the fodder for late night jokes. THAT along with the MSNBC strategy of jumping to call Obama critics racists has rightly raised the ire of conservatives.

Get some perspective before you accuse others of drinking the kool-aide.
felixw

Amazing! Chris Matthews deviates from the ultra-extreme left party line. How did MSNBC allow this? This is the first time in years that a MSNBC prime time pundit took a position that couldn’t be predicted in advance. Jeff Zucker ought to take this guy to task.
PureFreedom

All the reporters out there have stopped being journalist.. . They have completely been memorized by Obama’s coolness factor instead of asking questions and getting both sides. True journalism is dead in this administration. They are only cheerleaders now!
With Chris Mattews calling people who question the president Racist. I think its great…because the more the left uses the word racist, the less shock value it has and we can get back to debating facts.
AikidoJoe

I like Chris Matthews. His is the only program I watch on MSNBC. He is open to debate, regularly has good guests from all across the political spectrum and does solid interviews. He leans left but isn’t afraid to challenge the extremes at both ends. Most important: He didn’t spout talking points. I’d love to see him get Hannity’s slot on FOX. Fat chance of that happening though.
AikidoJoe

didn’t = doesn’t